During the 2016 season, the Cincinnati Reds were in full rebuild mode. As the trade deadline began to loom, the Reds moved slugging outfielder Jay Bruce. At the time, the trade looked like exactly what the Reds needed, sort of.
The Reds traded Bruce, who had an option year and an affordable contract for his production, to the Mets for infielder Dilson Herrera and left-handed starting pitching prospect Max Wotell. Herrera played for the Mets in part of both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Wotell, however, had never made it past rookie ball.
The deal looked so good, because the Reds were a bit short on infield prospects.